Politicians ‘out of step’ on integrated education

Research by the University of Ulster has revealed an apparent gulf between political thinking on education and the public appetite for integrated schools. A report from the University of Ulster’s UNESCO Centre shows a trend in party manifestos and policy, moving away from the concept of integrated education even though there is continuing, strong public support for the idea.

‘Integrated Education: A Review of Policy and Research Evidence 1999-2012’ was written by Ulf Hansson, Una O’Connor Bones and John McCord, and commissioned by the Integrated Education Fund (IEF).

The study draws together relevant studies, research and successive opinion polls in support of integrated education. It also presents evidence that discussion at the political level has moved to focus on the concept of ‘sharing’ between schools of different sectors. The IEF contends that this sidesteps the issue of bringing children together in the classroom for all of their school life.

Professor Alan Smith, the UNESCO Chair in Education at the University of Ulster, says that current discourse assumes that the vast majority of children will continue to be educated in separate schools for the foreseeable future. “By accepting this, political parties move towards education policies that plan for separate development rather than structural change and reform of the school system,” he said.

IEF Chief Executive Tina Merron commented: “There is an urgent need for the Education Minister and the department to listen to the public. Changes for schools in Northern Ireland are planned, with the introduction of the ESA and area-based planning, but it seems that an opportunity for a fundamental change in how education is structured is being missed.” The report is available at www.ief.org.uk/research